Yesterday felt long, somehow

I started the day wrestling with bureaucracy, which was stressful even though I think I succeeded (the phone system in question was annoying enough Tuesday and Wednesday that I decided the best bet was to call early). I headed downtown mid-morning, to do a bit of shopping and then spend time with my mother, who is visiting from London for just over a week.

The shopping was successful, and had one amusing bit. My main goal was more of the Golden Assam tea I like, which meant McNulty's, on Christopher Street in the West Village (yes, I can get Assam elsewhere, but I like this specific tea, and Porto Rico doesn't carry it). I wound up with a pound of loose tea, and a box of elderflower and blackberry tisane; if I like that, I'll look for it elsewhere, because almost anywhere else is likely to be cheaper. (I want something with elderflower for times I need to settle my stomach.) There's a drugstore a block away that often has the toothpaste I like, so I went in there. They did have it. I brought it to the cash register, and muttered something like "what does this cost" to myself as I looked at it. The cashier smiled and said "You get your neighborhood discount," and I was just alert enough to say "thank you" rather than "What neighborhood discount?" As far as I can tell, I got 10% off on the toothpaste because I was carrying a plastic bag that said McNulty's; either that, or he was just feeling friendly. I like the Village, but I can't claim that it's my neighborhood.

I then walked, took a bus, and walked some more to my aunt's apartment; it was sunny and getting hot, but not oppressive (or I'd have waited for another bus for the last bit of the trip). Mom was out running errands, so I spent a while talking to my aunt, which was also nice; nothing deep and meaningful, but pleasant. I spent the afternoon partly talking just with Mom and partly also with my aunt Lea (her husband Dave was his usual quiet self).

Thence to the gym, for a session with Emilie which didn't go as well as sometimes. Part of it was that she was running late again. I was annoyed (though glad she called and let me know), because adrian_turtle was visiting briefly on her way through town. Also, the person who was teaching a spin class during the first half of our session had the music up very loud; Emilie criticized one song choice, and I noted that at that volume, even if it was my favorite song it wouldn't help. The other problem was that my left calf cramped badly; Emilie did a bunch of massage, which helped a little, but I still decided not to do any more of the exercise it cramped during, and to skip one other. (I said "no lunges today" and she told me she had been going to say the same.) (No session details today, I didn't take many notes.)

I had given Adrian my spare keys on Tuesday, so at least I wasn't fretting about keeping her waiting in a coffee shop or bookstore somewhere. In fact, I got home and found her napping. *smile* I woke her gently and said I was feeling drained, and the answer was "would you like me to cook?" I took her up on that, and she looked through my fridge and cupboards and made pasta sauce. A good beginning to a pleasant but too-short visit. Too short because she had a mid-morning bus home today. So, two very brief visits, both of them involving more time asleep than awake, but I was glad to have her here, especially as cattitude is away on business this week. I not only am not lonely, but am enjoying having today to myself.